Do Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons nest together? Yes in northern Casco Bay. Paddling out to see some of my favorite islands with a group of three sea kayakers, we found a rookery for both. There were over 12 Snowy Egrets in one tree, another 14 on the shore and at least nine Great Blue Herons in trees and on the shore. More of these birds were easily visible on the shores of nearby islands. Young Common terns were feeding and creating a ruckus that the other birds ignored.

Laughing and Herring gulls were happily feeding and resting on rocks while the young Common Eider ducks were swimming in small groups. They aren't so small at this time of year and they almost look like their momma's as they aren't showing colors yet. Young Herring Gulls will keep their brown mottled colors until next year.

Alice's Awesome Adventures, LLC. has been asked by Freeport Recreation and Community Education to teach a Registered Maine Guide training program, April 11 - May 22, 2014.

I am very excited to offer this group class over seven evenings and two field training training days. It is at a reduced cost compared to a private customized course, but it will certainly get anyone interested in becoming a Registered Maine Guide for Recreation, Hunting, Fishing, Tidewater Fishing, or Sea Kayaking prepared to be a guide and then to take their oral and written examinations by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Training to become a Registered Maine Guide is hard work. Just because you have been an avid outsdoors person, doesn't mean that you have the complete knowledge set to be a great guide. Many people enter a training course in a "guide school" but I offer private personalized training based on your chosen future guide specialty and your existing skills and knowledge.

Canoeing skills especially rescues, perfection of strokes - so that you can explain them to your clients, transporting canoes and the finepoints of teaching others outdoor skills requires outdoor practice. Rainy weather is to be expected when running trips, so training can take place in similiar weather.

Spring is starting up all over MidCoast region of Maine. The pussywillows have passed, the peepers are peeping, osprey are back together in their nests and woodland birds are pairing off. Earlier than ever before, the barn swallow pairs are swooping and diving over my fields trying to decide on a nest box. Sadly I can't capture the swallows flying or the peepers on camera.

I can however share what most people never notice - the progression of the skunk cabbage as it emerges from the winter snow covering. The snow will start to melt around the tip of the dark purple bud that is pushing up through the mossy wet earth. Eventually there will be a small ball of deep purple and with bright green splotches that fade to ivory colored. On a warm spring day, the covering will open to reveal a small bloom.